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Clean Duck Eggs

I am trying to make sure that the eggs laid by my ducks stay clean until I collect them in the morning. Ducks lay eggs early in the morning so when it’s time to get the ducks out of their hut the eggs have already usually been laid.

I am hoping to start to sell the duck eggs but can only do so if the shells are clean. When I house the ducks on a night I have been giving them water and food which they eat and drink.

I have read that ducks don’t have food and drink at night but mine are used to it and do eat and drink the food and water left for them.

I change the litter in the hut everyday and this help to keep the duck eggs relatively clean but not the pristine white that the duck eggs sold in the shops look like.

Eggs should not be washed so this is not an option.

If anyone has any tips as to how to keep duck eggs clean then please leave a comment.

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8 thoughts on “Clean Duck Eggs”

Regarding your comment about washing duck eggs in warmer water than the shell so as to not penetrate the shell was very interesting. Can I ask if this still applies after they’ve been in the fridge for a while ans so basically at any time?

I have 17 ducks and thy are all begining to lay. It would be lovely to be able to wash them so can you confirm that for me please.

Thanks for your question. Firstly eggs cannot be washed when they are to be sold in shops or farmer’s markets. I think that if you are just giving your eggs to friends and family then they can be washed but you must wash them in water that is warmer than the egg so that the water doesn’t penetrate the pores of the shell.

If you are selling your eggs in shops and at farmers markets then the eggs have to have a label with were they were produced on them so your address. Also a best before date needs to go on. I put three weeks on duck eggs as I believe that there is no legislation on duck eggs.

You could contact the egg marketing inspectorate to double check the legislation.

We have two Indian Runners and can get about two 2 three eggs a day, we would like to sell them to the public can anyone tell me the rules and regulations on selling to the public! I have read so many different things I am confused
Thanks
Jess

Hi Sarah,
My khaki campbells make their own nest in their hut and the eggs sit in the hollow and are usually clean. You could get some pot eggs to encourage the ducks to sit.
Thanks for the sandpaper tip. Also if you are not selling eggs to the public, you can wash the duck eggs as long as the water is warmer than the egg.
Thanks for your comments and handy tips. Just to let you know I have set up a free forum with a section on ducks. http://farmingfriends.com/forums/forum.php?id=5
Kind regards
Sara @ farmingfriends

I have a trio of White Campbells. We get two eggs per day, one of which has always been pristine white but the other is often a little mucky, but now they both seem to be nice and clean and i have found that instead of being lost under the straw anywhere in their house, they are together in a sort of nest/hollow, so we are leaving them in there for a few days to see if one is going to brood. One of the females went back into the house yesterday, which is unheard of, but alas, we had already removed the eggs.

Hi Amanda,
Thanks for your question sorry that I haven’t replied sooner.
If the eggs are not wet or standing in a wet place for too long and as long as you cook them thoroughly then the eggs should be fine to eat. You just need to make sure that the eggs haven’t been sitting in water for a long time as the water and bacteria will seep through the porous shell.
Hope this helps.
kind regards
Sara @ farmingfriends

I have 4 lovely Indian Runner ducks, one male, they have started to lay, but not in their house, infact now that they have free range they won’t go back to into it at all. They mix with all the other ducks, geese and coots on the pond {which although is infront of our garden is the village pond} They lay their eggs randomly by the edge of the pond, are these safe to eat? Thankyou